Neither of us slept much last night. I guess part of it is the unfamiliarity of a new place, some of it was the fact that you could hear the waves crashing so loudly right under the house. It’s a little scary and unsettling, if you’re not used to it. Also, Eric was in such a bad mood last night that I was upset. Since I could tell he wasn’t sleeping well, I kind of knew he wasn’t going to go riding this morning. When the alarm went off at 6:00am, he apologized for waking me and said he wasn’t going to ride, because he hardly slept and he had a pain in his side.
This is a new one. He’s had lots of aches and pains in the past few months – headaches, neck aches, stomach aches, but now he says he has a pain in his side. He’s really falling apart and I don’t know if it’s the depression that’s making him sick, or if he’s really sick. He won’t go to a doctor. He’s being ridiculous and stubborn. I really don’t know what to do. He’s a grown man, but I don’t think he’s thinking clearly. Can I force him to go to a doctor?
At about 7:30am we started hearing someone hammering. I kept thinking, “Oh, they don’t know we’re here and the people upstairs are just putting a picture on the wall. But it kept going on and on. At 8:00am, when the alarm went off for me, I went outside and there were two guys working on the roof. They just looked at me, as I stood there in my pajamas. I looked at them, and then went back inside. I told Eric that we had to get up anyway, and it looked like they weren’t going to be finished anytime soon anyway.
Eric told me that even though he wasn’t going riding, he still didn’t want to go to breakfast with me and Jerry. It’s too cold for a walk on the beach, so that’s out. Besides, the tide is still so high that you couldn’t walk without getting your feet wet and the water’s freezing!
I sat at the computer in the dining room, looking out at the wall of windows and watching the seagulls fishing for breakfast. The waves were rolling in and all you could see was ocean. If you look to the left or right you can see some hills with houses and the rest of the coastline, but looking straight out it’s just water.
I checked my emails and then went into the shower. I figured I’d put on my clothes from yesterday just to go to breakfast and then come back and change for the day later, since I’m wearing a skirt and sweater set and high heels. No need to get so dressy for breakfast – even if it IS in Malibu!
Eric was complaining about not feeling well, so I told him he didn't have to come to Los Angeles with me. He could wait and come tonight with Jerry, just for dinner. That seemed to make him feel a lot better and he agreed to go out to breakfast with us. I guess he figured he could rest or ride in the afternoon, if he felt up to it.
The kitchen and dining room area of the condo:
They’re shooting a film down the block – don’t know if it’s a movie or TV show. Jerry said they’ve been there for a week. I wanted him to stop last night, so I could ask what they’re doing. He was too shy. I was going to ask when we drove by this morning, but they were not there.
We went to PARADISE COVE BEACH CAFÉ (A Memory In Every Visit) on Pacific Coast Highway. It’s a landmark in Malibu and has been there for many years.
I was hoping to spot a celebrity or two, but – again – no such luck. We did have a fantastic breakfast. Jerry had the Lox Box, which is a plate of lox, with capers, red onions, lettuce and tomatoes, with a bagel and cream cheese on the side. There was enough lox for TWO bagels (and Jerry ended up ordering a second bagel, because there was so much lox left over!).
Eric ordered the Carrot Cake Waffles, which tasted like carrot cake which had been formed in the shape of a waffle. Add butter and syrup and you have the most fattening breakfast on earth!
I had a pretty fattening breakfast myself. It was Portobello Mushroom and Crab Benedict. Instead of an English muffin, it was a big Portobello mushroom. Instead of ham there was a scoop of crab, and it was covered with Hollandaise sauce. There were tiny cubes of roasted potatoes and a fruit salad. It was fantastic, and I could only eat half. Eric had my leftovers for lunch, while I was at the theater!
After breakfast we came back to the condo and looked at the dolphins and seals with binoculars. What a treat!
Then, I got dressed and left for Los Angeles. Eric and Jerry were going to come down later, for dinner. I got there a little before 1:00pm. Ilene came home, changed, grabbed a fast bite, and we went to the PANTAGES THEATER. It is one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever seen – and I’ve seen every Broadway theater in New York! It is totally Art Deco and completely magnificent! I couldn’t stop looking at every inch of the walls, floors, ceilings, chandeliers, art work, tile work, etc. WOW!
We had nice seats – in the last row of the front mezzanine. They weren’t the best seats, but I thought they provided a great view of the entire set and you could see everything going on, even though we were pretty far back.
The show was just perfection. I saw it in New York and this cast was as superb as the original Broadway cast. The voices of both Elfaba and Glinda were fantastic and I laughed and cried. The show is so amazing and I recommend it SO highly to anyone who can see it on either coast!
While I was at the show Eric did go for a ride, but he rode locally and just rode up and down Pacific Coast Highway. Jerry told me that he had a long talk with Eric -- for over an hour -- and pretty much told him "Snap out of it" (but in a much nicer way). I guess it worked, because Eric DID ride today!
After the show we went back to Ilene and Kyle’s and Ilene quickly whipped up an unbelievable dinner. Jerry and Eric arrived soon after.
My cousin, Karen, also came over with her husband, Mark and their two sons – Max and Jason. It was so great to see them again, too. We had a lot of fun talking about celebrity sightings, different shows we have seen, and genealogy.
Ilene prepared Mahi Mahi with a mango salsa, chicken kabobs, risotto, sautéed vegetables in a balsamic vinaigrette, fried calamari, a wedge of brie with crackers, and a Greek pastry with spinach (I can’t remember how to say it or spell it!). She either prepared it last night or this morning and only had to cook everything. I don’t know how she timed it so that everything came out at the same time, but she was great! She made a buffet and everyone lined up to fill their plates.
Along with Karen and Mark’s sons, Max and Jason, Ilene and Kyle’s kids, Evan and Elise had macaroni and cheese (which Eric was tempted to take, too!). Everything was so delicious. She really knows how to entertain! We missed their oldest son, Tyler, because he was at a soccer game and then at a friend’s house.
After dinner we had dessert – a bundt cake she baked this afternoon, which Kyle tested until it was baked perfectly and then took out of the oven while we were at the show. She also baked peanut butter and chocolate kiss cookies and brownies last night. Is she the best or WHAT? She made the peanut butter and chocolate cookies just for me, because she always reads in my blog how much I love that combination! How she found the time while working full time and taking care of three kids is beyond me. I can hardly find the time to make frozen pizza and I’m not even working (and don’t have any kids). She and her husband Kyle are a great team!
We left after 9:30pm and came back to the condo where Jerry, Eric and I hung out for a while. I was pretty exhausted, because it had been a LONG day, but what a wonderful day it was!